Mercedes driver plows into three Salem police cruisers, injures two officers in pursuit

By JAMES A. KIMBLEUnion Leader Correspondent

SALEM -- A 30-year-old man was arrested Friday night for allegedly plowing his Mercedes Benz into three police cruisers and injuring two officers while fleeing from police on Friday night.

Luis Figueroa, of 7 Tiffany Road, Apt. 12, Salem, is being held on several charges and a parole violation after setting off a pursuit along Rockingham Park Boulevard at 9:46 p.m. on Friday.

A driver called police complaining that a white Mercedes was all over the road and cut him off at least three times, police said.

Salem police Officer Michael McCarthy located the car along Tiffany Road near the Salem Cross Condominium complex. The driver was passed out at the wheel with his foot on the brake with the vehicle still in drive, police said.

McCarthy had to wake the man up. The driver responded by looking up at McCarthy and speeding away in his car, police said. The officer followed the driver -- later identified as Figueroa -- down a dead-end section of Tiffany Road, police said.

When Figueroa got to the end of the road, he suddenly reversed direction at McCarthy and struck several parked cars, police said.

Figueroa drove around McCarthy and headed northbound through the condominium complex, according to police. Back-up patrol units were responding to the area and attempted to stop the Mercedes.

A second police officer blocked off a narrow travel lane. But Figueroa drove off the road, over a snow embankment and got around the cruiser, police said.

Once the Mercedes got back on the road, it struck another police cruiser head on, police said.

Figueroa accelerated the Mercedes and pushed the cruiser back about 15 feet before dislodging his car and driving at another officer who exited his cruiser, police said. That officer was not struck and able to get back into his patrol car to follow Figueroa, police said.

As Figueroa attempted to leave the complex at the end of Tiffany Road, he struck a second police cruiser on the left corner, and backed into a third police cruiser while attempting to flee the collision, police said.

Figueroa was then taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers, police said.

Police said they found a large plastic bag of Xanax pills stuffed in Figueroa’s pants. He is facing charges of second-degree assault, three counts of reckless conduct, possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute and resisting arrest.